Mount Macedon Primary Newsletter

Tuesday 15th February 2022

Hello Everyone,

Last Friday we had an interesting school swimming sports day. The senior students all competed and completed their events in the large pool. The weather was cool, but the children seemed happy. Every time we select a date, we look at the weather predictions but sometimes the actual weather is quite different to what we expected. 

Unfortunately, our younger children were unable to participate due to high chlorine issues with the smaller pool. We waited a long time for the issue to be rectified but they were unable to create the right balance in the water and so our junior children had their swimming sports this morning. I was very proud of the way our younger children handled their disappointment. Hopefully today was full of fun for them.

I wanted to share with you, our school performance results for 2021. Each year the DET surveys students, parents and staff and collate the results, then compare us to similar schools (similar size and socio-economic) and to the State results.

This Friday night we have the Welcome BBQ at the school, starting at 6pm. Please come along and join us. This is a lovely, relaxed evening where you will get to spend some time together and meet some of the other parents. Our Friends of the School team are organising this event. They are a terrific group of parents who organise events for the school. Please consider joining us this year as we will really need your help. For the last two years we have been unable to hold many events due to lockdowns and restrictions. This has meant that much-needed locally raised funds have not come into the school. The money that we raise at events helps us to add the “extras" to the school. This year is FETE YEAR!!! The fete will be held on Saturday 12th November, and we will need all hands on deck to help us. 😊

Thank you to the people who have contacted me re the COVID information I put out yesterday. There was some concern that the document I used was out of date, but this document has been used as the reference in my most recent School Operations Guide, which is current. I have also included for you, an extract from the government Coronavirus website. Section 3 paragraph 2 supports the information sent home.

https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/managing-illness-schools-and-early-childhood-education-and-care-services

It is currently a minefield of information out there and there is definitely contradictory advice around. All I can do is to follow the guidelines set by the Department of Education and Training. I have also been asked about the wording in the statement and it does say “should” not “must”.

Tonight, we have our first school council meeting for the year. Tomorrow I will be announcing that we have three vacant positions on School Council (half of the council come up for re-election each year). I will send out to you all the information about what being a school councillor means and what the commitment is. Please think about joining our productive, committed team.

Have a great week everyone.

Trish

Hello everyone.

Grades 3-6 had the swimming carnival last Friday. Everyone had a heap of fun, chatting with friends and getting ready to race or splash around. It wasn't the warmest of days, but the pool was pretty warm from the day before. There were lots of smiles and laughs.

Foundation, Grade 1 and Grade 2 arrived at the pool with great expectations. Due to some hassles with the chemicals in the pool, the day was postponed and instead it was run today. It was the Foundation's first swimming carnival, their first excursion and from all reports it was a heap of fun.

Everyone new to the school have started to settle in and are now getting comfortable. The Grade 5 and 6's have received their own laptops to take home, and most of the grade 6 leadership roles have gotten underway.

Everybody is looking forward to all the events, activities, and the year ahead.

Eliza

Just a reminder to ensure that students have their hats to wear at school during recess and lunchtimes, as well as any other outdoor activities they may be participating in. It is important that we are all being sun smart and ensuring our children are protected from the harmful UV light that is at its highest peak during the months of mid August to April, where UV index levels regularly reach 3 or above. Please also remember to name your children's hats as they quite often are lost, misplaced or left in the playground and it is handy to know who the hats belong to! Spotted on the grounds were three of our Grade 6 students all wearing their hats during an outdoor lesson.

Music will resume for 2022. Our music lessons are run by Shaun Evans from Ranges Music Network. Please email: shaun@rangesmusic.net if you are interested in music lessons for your children. This year, the music lessons will be held mostly on Wednesdays and cater for all levels, classes and instruments.

At various times of the day, our students partake in an activity we call "Movement on the Mount". This activity breaks up the days schoolwork with some fun dancing or exercise to help improve concentration, mood and overall wellbeing. This week our Grade 4/5's were grooving to an old classic by The Village People - YMCA! 

FOS Welcome BBQ - Friday 18th February 6-8pm

District Swimming - Wednesday 23rd February

Athletics Carnival - Friday 4th March

Cross Country - Friday 18th March (Grades 3-6)

Foundation children will attend school on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays during February. Wednesdays are a rest day.

These Wednesdays are:

Feb 2nd, 9th, 16th & 23rd.

Term 1 - Monday 31st January to Friday 8th April

Term 2 - Tuesday 26th April to Friday 24th June

Term 3 - Monday 11th July to Friday 16th September

Term 4 - Monday 3rd October to Friday 20th December